Dental appliance



Patented June .242, i924.

BUTTON S. LIGHTCAP, OFCQLUMBIANA, ALABAMA.

DENTAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed June 30, 1921. Serial No. 481,676.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, DUTTON S. Lrcrrronr, a citizen of the United States of America residing at Columbiana, in the county of Shelby and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a dental appliance to facilitate the mounting of artificial teeth and particularly the setting of the eight posterior teeth which involves the most difficult and scientific work.

My invention contemplates the provisions of an adjustably supported mounting plate adapted to be set and locked on the occlusal plane and which may be either flat or curved in accordance with the curve of Spec which plate is designedand adapted to define be tween its rear portion and the upper form the exact space to be occupied by the eight posterior teeth and to serve as a guide and pattern on or by which said eight posterior teeth can be accurately set in correct anatom ical position.

A further object of my invention relates to the means provided for the adjustment of the mounting plate so as to permit it to be raised and lowered, always in planes parallel with the established occlusal plane in which it has been locked, into the position in which its front portion will contact with the cutting edges of the six anterior teeth which have been set, in accordance with the present practice, in correct anatomical position in the form.

My invention further contemplates the provision of aspecial type of mounting plate which is vcapable of being set in the manner described to contact with the anterior teeth, while its rear portion by or upon which the posterior teeth are set up is shaped to conform to the curve of Spee so that the posterior teeth can be set on thecurve when desired.

While my invention contemplates other means for the mounting and adjustment of my improved type of mounting plate, I have shown in the accompanying drawings only the preferred embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved mounting plate, with its near supports re moved, set, after being locked on the occlusal plane to contact with the upper form to set it in the established occlusal plane, while Fig. 2 shows the six anterior teeth set in the upper formwith the mounting plate lowered to contact with the cutting edges of such teeth on the occlusal plane.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified type of mounting plate having its rear portion designed in conformity with the curve of Spee with the posterior teeth shown in mounted position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of my mounting plate and its supports.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings. I

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a conventional type of anatomical articulator comprising an upper bow 1. and a lower bow 2, which are attached in the condyle members 3 and 4:, respectively.

It is to be understood that my invention is adapted for use with any anatomical articulator. I

My invention in the preferred embodiment illustrated comprises a. flat metallic base plate 5 having rigidly mounted thereon near the center of each end a rigid vertical post 6. Each post has slidable thereon a trunnion bearing sleeve 7 which is adapted to be locked at the desired adjustment on thepost by a set screw 8. Each sleeve at its inner end carries a socket 9 adapted to receive the ends of the supporting shaft or trunnion 10 rigidly attached to the mounting plate 11 near its transverse median line. This trunnion and its slidable bearings are typical of any vertically adjustable horizontal axis on which the plate can be rocked in a vertical plane to set it in the desired occlusal plane. A set screw 12 working through one of the sockets 9 will clamp the shaft .10 so as to lock the plate 11 in the desired angularposition which will, in practice, conform to the occlusal plane of each case, which plane will be determined in accordance with established anatomical principles. The space between the standards 6 is ample for the reception of the articnlator, guides 13 being provided on the base to align and center the articulator by engaging its lower bow. Ample room is left on each side between the standards and the articulator for the hands of the operator in placing the posterior teeth in position on the mounting plate in the manner which will now be described.

The upper form 14; is first set on the mounting plate lit as shown in Fig. i and is properly centered with relation to the "ticulator and is then suitably attached to the upper bow 1. This causes its bottom face of the form to lie in the occlusal plane established by the plate 11. lhe articulator is then removed and the six upper anterior teeth, generally indicated by the reference numeral 15, are set in the form to the proper length, in accordance with the present methods. The articulator is then replaced. on the base 5 with the mounting plate interposed between the upper and lower "forms and the upper form is lowered upon the mounting plate. If the cutting edges of the six anterior teeth do not all contact with the mounting plate in the position in which it is locked, then the trunnion bearings 7 should be released, by loosening the nut 8, and should be lowered on the standards until the cutting edges otall the teeth 15 will con tact with the plate as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be especially noted that in making this ad justment the angular setting of the plate on the occlusal plane is not disturbed and therefore throughout the vertical adjustments it remains always in the same occlusal plane. hen the plate has been adjusted to contact with the several anterior teeth, its rear portion will define with relation to the rear portion of the upper form the exact space for the reception of the eight posterior teeth which are now to be mounted either by setting their occlusal ends on the mounting plate and thrusting them into soft wax to receive them on the form, or since the mounting of the plate 11 is sufliciently rigid these posterior teeth can be set in the upper form by raising it from the plate 11 and then, while the wax is still warm the upper form can be pressed back down on the plate 11 which thus forms pattern surface shaped and designed to force the posterior teeth to assume the correct anatomical position whichis thus definitely and quickly determined by the mounting plate, Where the teeth are to be set in a flat plane, in contradistinction to mounting them on the curve of Spee, the mounting plate 11 can be a flat plate on both sides of its axis, as shown in Fig. 1, but should the operator desire to set the posterior teeth on the curve of Spec, this can be accomplished with equal facility with my appliance by the substitution of the mounting plate 11 after the upper form hasbeen set up on the plate 11 and the latter bearings adjusted to set the plate 11 in contact with the anterior teeth. This plate ll has its front end flat like plate 1.1 and can be mounted in the bearings in. place of plate 11 and will set itself on the occlusal plane by contact with the anterior teeth. The portion to the rear of the axis in plate 11 is shaped to conform to the'curve masses or t; ass in every respect and thus instead of n approximately rectangular space at bottom as pattern surface for the mounting of the posterior teeth, it provides a space, the bottom of which is curved to the on vs ot Spee, and the posterior teeth are mounted on this plate. either being set on it or by being t i into position by engagement therewith will conform with exact and any to the c 1 ct am F posterior teeth to conform ations The mountl or 11 if desired, can be set on level or horizontal position and the te th forced or set in position thereon, thus givi a well balanced mounting plate.

I prefer to support the mounting plate independently of the articulator, as in my opinion this affords the most convenient technique, but I claim broadly any suitable means for adjustably supporting a mount ing plate in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Moreover, if it be desired to set only the molars on the curve of Spee, this can be readily accomplished by my apparatus by moving the curved portion of the plate rearward behind the bicuspids so that only the molars will engage itscurved portion while the bicuspids will be set on the occlusal plane. This relative adjustment of the curved portion of the mounting plate rela tively to the form is of importance in adapting my apparatus to use in practically all conditions of work that may be encountered. Havingthus described my invention, whatclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V j l. A dental appliance for setting posterior teeth, comprising a plate, pivotal bearings adapted to mount said plate on the desired occlusal plane bet-ween forms in an anatomical articulator, means to fasten the plate in its adjusted angular position, and means to eitect a relative vertical adjustment be tween the plate and the upper form of the articulator.

2. A dental appliance for use with an anatomical articulator, comprising a tooth mounting plate having a horizontally disposed side journal, a vertically disposed standard on which said journal is mounted free for vertical adjustment,and instrumentalities to lock and rigidly support the mounting plate in any desired vertical and angular adjustments.

3. A dental mounting appliance for posterior teeth comprising a rigid plate having a trunnion near the center of a side edge, a journal bearing for said trunnion, a standard on which said bearing is vertically adjustable, means to prevent angular movement of the plate about the standard, a set screw to engage said trunnions and lock the plate in desired angular adjustment, and means to fasten said bearing in the desired vertical adjustment on said standard.

4. The combination with an anatomical articulator, of a base plate having means to guide the articulator into predetermined relationship therewith a rigid mounting plate, side rocker bearings for said plate which are vertically adjustable relatively to said articulator. and means to rigidly hold the plate in the desired angular and vertical adjustment.

5. A dental mounting plate for posterior teeth having a transverse trunnion upon which it is adapted to rock, and having the portion thereof to the rear of its trunnion shaped to conform to the curve of Spec.

6. A dental appliance comprising a mounting plate for teeth having a fiat front surface adapted to engage the anterior teeth and a rear surface conformed to the curve of Spee and adapted to engage and set the posterior teeth, and means to adjustably mount said plate to rock on a transverse axis between said surfaces.

7. A dental appliance mounting plate for teeth having a flat front surface adapted to engage the anterior teeth and a rear surface conformed to the curve of Spee and adapted to engage and set the posterior teeth, and means to adjustably mount said plate to rock on a transverse axis between said surfaces, in combination with an anatomical articulaton and means 'to mount it with the desired posterior teeth only overlying the curved rear surface of said plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DUTTON S. LIGHTCAP. Witness NOMIE WELSH.

comprising a 

